The second full day of the NSBA World Championship Show and Breeders Championship Futurity saw the final champions of the show named in over fences classes and the horse show community came together to honor our nation’s veterans who competed in the NSBA Heroes On Horses class Saturday evening.
Working Hunter Highlights
A full day of Working Hunter and Equitation Over Fences classes completed the events for over fences horses at this year’s show. The first champion of the day saw a former Hunter Under Saddle futurity champion shine in his new role as an over fences horse when Hows That For Ya won the Green Working Hunter with Tyler Haney in the irons for Morgan Ramsey Miller.
“Katy Jo Zuidema had done really well with him, she was reserve world champion with him in Junior Hunter Under Saddle at the AQHA World Show,” Tyler said. “Morgan bought him and had him in training with Empyre Performance Horses, and she was the one that suggested that we teach him to jump. We just started showing him at the beginning of June.
“He’s very honest. He tries really hard, and if he doesn’t know what to do he does his best to figure it out. He has such great expression, and he is a true example of form to function – he is up in the shoulder and cover the ground when he moves, and that translates both to Hunter Under Saddle and over fences classes.”
Jo Ann Niffenegger and her mount SG Rich N Royal earned the world championships in Amateur 50 & Over Working Hunter.
“Bentley is 14 years old now, and he is by Rich N Chocolatey,” Jo Ann said. “We didn’t come last year, but we are a two-time champion in this class. He came in a little up on the muscle, but I just told myself to sit down and ride quiet, and he jumped really well.”
Jana Rodes and Daddys A Hero continued their winning ways, earning another world championship title, this time in Amateur Working Hunter. Morgan Ratkowski captured both the reserve world championship and third with her two mounts in the class, with Better Buy The Minit earning the reserve award and Penny Kruzer taking third.
In Youth Working Hunter, Macyen Doskocil showed her Oldenberg Warmblood, LF Chromeo, to the world championship. “We mostly show at hunter shows close to home in Texas, but my sister shows at the Quarter Horse shows,” Macyen said.
“Chromeo is really great. I love his personality. He’s really fun to show. Mainly I just worked at keeping him going and paying attention, because there was a lot going on with the cameras flashing and people walking around. This was our first NSBA world championship.”
In Open Working Hunter, Hannah Sisoyev piloted Miss American Pi for young owner Daisey Mendez Pompei, and came all the way from California to show. “This is my first AQHA or NSBA World Show,” Hannah said.
“I mostly show Hunters and Jumpers and have a barn in California. The Mendes family came to me with their daughter and wanted to teach her to jump, and then to try to be ready to show here in a couple of months. They are such a great family, and Miss American Pi had a great start, and has come along really well with Daisy. The horse community here has been really welcoming and so helpful with all of our questions. We’ve had a great experience.”
A Trio of Equitation World Titles
Justine Tidwell capped off a successful NSBA World Championship Show with her new horse, Heza Smilin Tiger, by winning the world championship in Amateur Equitation Over Fences 50 & Over.
“We just bought ‘Jack’ in September,” Justine said. “Shannon McCullough had him with a Youth client and he did the All Around classes. Chuck Briggs started jumping him in late December. We schooled him in Florida, and I started jumping in at March To The Arch, and we’ve just steadily progressed.
“We were the last ones to go, and I tried not to watch anyone else go and just tried to focus and ride each jump, keep my leg and breathe. Now I’m going to have to learn Trail, Showmanship, Horsemanship and Hunt Seat Equitation, since he does all those classes,” she laughed.
Morgan Ratkowski and her long-time show partner, Better Buy The Minit earned the world championship in Amateur Equitation Over Fences. “This course was super fun,” Morgan said. “It had a trot jump and a hand gallop, and it was a really fun test. Murray loves the equitation and those courses where he can be more handy.
“In the Equitation Over Fences, the judges look more for the position of the rider, and you really want to match all your jumps and ride smoothly and consistently throughout the course. I like to make handier turns where I can show off his rideability, and it paid off.”
Denim Wellhouse showed Naturally Immortal to win the Youth Equitation Over Fences. The 11 year old Natural Iron gelding has been her show partner for the past four years.
“The course had a lot of flow to it today,” Denim said. “The Equitation Over Fences is my favorite class. You have to keep your body tight and be consistent.”
Celebrating Cowgirls ROC (Reaching Out to the Community)
Midday found the NSBA Foundation celebrating the community service of 25 hard-working women in the horse industry with the Foundation’s new Dianne Eppers Cowgirls ROC award.
The award has been named after NSBA past executive director and long-time NSBA volunteer and member Dianne Eppers.
Cindy Cosentino was announced as the inaugural recipient of the award and was honored for her years of service to the Nebraska and NSBA youth associations among her other volunteer work.
Hailing Our Heroes
Saturday culminated in honoring our nation’s veterans with the Parade of Veterans and the Heroes On Horses class for active or former members of the United States military. A presentation of flags by NSBA members along with a riderless horse and a presentation of a huge American flag by the Thunderbird Academy honored the veterans just prior to the competition.
The Thunderbird Challenge program is sponsored by the Oklahoma National Guard that began in 1993, and is focused on providing motivation and direction to youth aged 15 to 18. The program provides vocational classes, community service and mentorship to youth. The 17 and a half month program is free to attendees, and includes a five and a half month residential and 12-month post-residential follow-up program with a mentor after graduation.
Jackie Egan, a Navy plane captain who worked with helicopters and was stationed in Coronado Island, won the world championship title in the Heroes On Horses class. She showed Chalk Star, who is part of the Stable Strides Farm barn roster. “He is new to our barn, and he is a just a super sweet gelding,” Jackie said. “I fell in love with him the first time I rode him.
“The Heroes On Horses event is really amazing, to feel everyone’s support. What’s most special is the camaraderie of the veterans, the dinner, the practice riding we do, and when the trainers take their time to come and help us - that is just really cool. Everyone cheers each other on, and I just love that.
My son is also an EWD rider, so I will also be cheering him on this week. Horses are amazing – they clean your slate every day when you get on them. It’s always a brand new, fresh day when you get on them, and your stress just leaves.”
Complete results of the Heroes On Horses class were:
World Champion – Jackie Egan (US Navy, Plane Captain – two and a half years), Chalkstar
Reserve champion – Kayla McQuaig (US Marine Corps – first and second Marine division, 0311 rifleman, eight years), Bridled
Third – Kendra Begley (US Navy – Gunners Mate Third Class Petty Officer, four years), A Chip Of Sudden
Fourth – Jeanna Irby (US Airforce – 33rd Fighter Wing Nomads, 22 years), Papas Little Redhead
Fifth – Jeffrey Harris (US Navy – Seabees, 13 years), PK No Doubt Im Lacy
Sixth – Kevin Sloan (US Army – combat medic and paramedic instructor, 18 years), Red 57
Seventh – Daniel Whittaker (US Army National Guard, Recruiting Battallion - 22 years), Brand New Zippo
Eighth – Shurray Barnes (US Army), Wishing To Be Good
Ninth – Amy Brunelle (US Air Force – mortuary, air traffic control, eight years), Lenas Precious Dove
Tenth – Bruce Cummings (US Army – Infantry, Special Forces, seven years), Terms Are Blazing
Finalist – John “PK” Kelley (US Army – 2nd Ranger Batallion, 75th Ranger Regiment, four years), Shes Zippin Rageous
Finalist – Theresa Morgan (US Air Force – combat medic, healthcare provider, 21 years), LC Royal Chick
Finalist – John Halpin III (US Marines – Desert Shield and Desert Storm – 13 and a half years), Huntin For Stardom
Finalist – Cindy Krenshaw-Martin (US Air Force – Microwave Maintenance, Hahn Air Force Base, Germany – three years), Bud
Finalist – Daniel Stalcup (US Army – Fort Hood – transportation, five years), Roanie
Finalist – Michelle Jacinto (US Army – combat in Iraq, three and half years), Lazy Assets
The 2022 NSBA World Championship Show and Breeders Championship Futurity continues through Sunday, August 21. To view complete show results, view the live video feed or learn more about the show or NSBA, please visit nsba.com.
